If your rental property’s kitchen is looking tired, and/or dated, now is probably the time to give it a bit of a makeover.

Not everyone can afford a major kitchen overhaul, but there are less expensive things you can do to make your kitchen more appealing.

Here are six quick fixes you can do to spruce up ‘the heart of the home’ and make it more attractive to prospective tenants.

1. Maximise the space

Small kitchens are often the hardest ones to improve on. But increasing the storage space can make it more desirable to prospective tenants. One of the easiest ways is to add shelving on spare walls. Even adding a few shelving in a corridor leading to it offers easy-access storage for everyday items, as well as providing extra display space

2. Let the light shine in

If a kitchen is dark, then it looks smaller, and no-one wants to cook in the dark anyway! Better lighting will create the impression of more space. Changing the lamp shade, or fitting the kitchen with new lights and light fittings can also make a big difference as to how a kitchen looks.

And go a little bit further by adding LED bulbs – tenants like anything which reduces utility bills!

3. Increase the workspace

Some kitchens end up with a bit of space under the counter. A little cabinet is an ideal option to fill the space, but a freestanding cabinet on wheels can do more than that; it can increase the amount of workspace there is. Get creative and put a butcher’s block on top of it.

Hinged narrow workspaces, which drop down to be flush against the wall are a great option for increasing the workspace, particularly if it’s under the window, as it can double as a breakfast bar.

4. Update decor

This perhaps is the most obvious thing to do when it comes to a tired looking room. A lighter coat of paint will go a long way to making a small kitchen feel bigger and more spacious. Carefully selected darker colours on some walls can give depth too. It’s always best to pay a bit extra for durable emulsion kitchen paint – that way the paint is wipeable and washable.

5. Change the handles

New handles and knobs can give your cabinets and drawers a new look. You don’t have to go for the top of the range, and this small investment does make a genuine impact. Plus it doesn’t take long to do the job.

6. Find the right flooring

Painting a wall can really freshen up the kitchen space, so can adding a new flooring. On a tight budget, you can easily install plastic laminated floor tiles to save a lot of time and effort, or invest in other materials like ceramic, porcelain and vinyl flooring.

Patterned flooring can also help shape the kitchen; floor boards or patterned flooring that runs parallel with the length of your kitchen will make it appear longer. The opposite, using flooring that runs across the width of the room to make it appear wider. For tiles, lay them diagonally to make the room feel longer and wider.

If you want some more tips on how to improve your rental property on a budget, or want to know more about our property management services or investing in property, get in touch. Simply give us a ring on 02 4956 9777, send us an email to mail@newcastlepropertymanagement.com.au or pop into our Cardiff office for a chat.

For more property management tips check out our Facebook page.